Time waits for no man – and no football club. Manchester United and Everton are just two of many organisations that recognise the need to improve their facilities, of which the home stadium is the most essential for the club’s development. In this “match”, Everton are ahead of United.Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has formed a task force to explore options for regenerating Old Trafford, enlisting the help of prominent figures like Sebastian Coe and Gary Neville. Coe, known for his leadership in the successful bid for the London 2012 Olympics, will chair the task force as they investigate the potential for building a new Old Trafford of “national significance”. The aim is to create a modernised home for United that could host international matches and finals, similar to the transformation seen at the London Stadium following the 2012 Games.🚨🔴🎙️Sir Jim Ratcliffe: “This can be a major regeneration project for an area of Greater Manchester which has played such a key role in British industrial history, but which today requires new investment to thrive again. The north-west of England has a greater concentration of… pic.twitter.com/bdjqm5hbMU— Manchester United Forever (@Utd_Forever7) March 8, 2024 Ratcliffe has expressed a preference for knocking down the current Old Trafford, describing it as “run down and neglected in places”, and rebuilding it on the existing site. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Sara Todd, chief executive of Trafford Council, will also be part of the task force. Ratcliffe emphasised the potential for major regeneration in the Greater Manchester area, highlighting the need for new investment to revitalise the region. “This can be a major regeneration project for an area of Greater Manchester that has played such a key role in British industrial history but which today requires new investment to thrive again. The north-west of England has a greater concentration of major football clubs than anywhere else in the world, yet we don’t have a stadium on the scale of Wembley, Camp Nou or Bernabeu. We will not be able to change that on our own, which is why this task force is so important to help us seize this once-in-a-century opportunity.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7939308##Coe and Neville both shared their enthusiasm for the project, with Coe emphasising the role of stadiums as focal points for communities and Neville stressing the need for a world-class stadium that benefits both Manchester United and the surrounding community. Neville, a former United player and co-owner of Hotel Football, situated opposite the east stand of Old Trafford, emphasised the importance of creating a better, modern stadium.”While I want the best for Manchester United, I also want the same for the surrounding community. Old Trafford should be a stadium that the whole of Greater Manchester can take pride in and be a catalyst for sustainable, cohesive growth in an area of the city that has been neglected for too long.”Ratcliffe’s project aims to support the revitalisation of the Trafford Park area and contribute to the concept of ‘levelling up’ by driving investment in the north of England. United has pledged to closely consult with supporters and local residents throughout the process to ensure their input is considered.As the plans for the future gather pace, Erik Ten Hag’s team have to do well on the pitch in the present day. The Red Devils face off against Everton, a club whose new stadium is now in its final stages of development.
United will have Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans available for selection despite both being substituted due to injuries in their recent match against Manchester City. However, youngster Omari Forson will be absent for this upcoming fixture. Rasmus Hojlund, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Harry Maguire will continue to miss out, but there is a possibility they could feature in the match against Liverpool next weekend.On the Everton side, manager Sean Dyche has stated that Idrissa Gueye is “unlikely” to return from a groin injury for this match. However, there is still a chance, albeit small, for Gueye to be involved. Arnaut Danjuma will not be available for Everton as this game comes too soon for him, while Dele Alli remains sidelined as well.PREMIER LEAGUE – MATCHDAY 28Saturday15:30: (1.87) Man.Utd. (3.60) Everton (4.20)18:00: (2.55) Wolverhampton (3.45) Fulham (2.90)18:00: (1.80) Crystal Palace (3.70) Luton (5.00)18:00: (1.35) Bournemouth (5.30) Sheffield Utd (8.00)20:30: (1.23) Arsenal (6.50) Brentford (12.0)Sunday16:00: (2.45) Aston Villa (3.70) Tottenham (2.90)17:00: (1.65) West Ham (3.70) Burnley (5.60)17:00: (1.80) Brighton (3.70) Nott.Forest (5.00)18:45: (3.05) Liverpool (3.70) Man.City (2.35)Monday23:00: (2.00) Chelsea (3.70) Newcastle (3.90)***odds are subject to change***